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(No Model.)

D. DE CASTRO.

LETTER FILE.

' Patented Dec. 24, 1895.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL DE CASTRO, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LETTER-FILE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 551,888, datedDecember 24, 1895.-

Application filed April 6 1895. Serial No. 544,801. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL DE CASTRO, residing at London, England, haveinvented an Improvement in Letter-Files, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to files for filing letters and similar-papers,and has for its object the construction and arrangement of a filewhereon letters can be filed with great facility, so that when the fullcomplement of letters has been filed thereon they maybe so fastened andheld as if bound in a book,while at the same time anyparticular lettermay be extracted from the file and replaced thereon at will.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same in relation to the accompanying drawings,reference being had to the letters marked thereon.

Like letters refer to like parts in the various figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved letter-file in its openextended position ready for the placing of letters or papers thereon.Fig. 2 is an end view of the same showing the filing device with theportion of the covers inclosing the same in the closed position afterthe letters have been placed upon the file, the main covers of the filebeing shown in the open position. Fig. 3 isa diagrammatic view showingan end view of the file in its extreme extended form. Fig. 4 is asimilar view showing it with the filing device and its inclosing-coversin their closed form but with the main covers open. Fig. 5 is a view ofthe same with the main covers in their closed position. Figs. 6 and '7are diagrammatic views of the file with a modified filing device in theopen and closed positions re- Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 show variousmethods of clamping the filing device in its closed position; and Figs.13 and l i are views of the clasp of the book-file with a punchingattachment embodied therewith, for punching holes in the' letters orpapers for engagement with the prongs of the file.

To carry my invention into efiect I arrange upon a stiff back A twocovers B B, which are hinged thereto at the points a a. Each cover B isalso provided with a hinge 12. Both hinges a and I) allow of theportions of the cover being bent in an outward direction but not in aninward direction. Upon the center line of the back A, I mount thefilingdevice O at the point 0. This filing device consists of two platesE E, which are hinged together so as to move freely and independently ofthe back A. Upon the outer edges P of these plates E E, I mount two ormore curved prongs P, so that each prong lies in a circle struck fromthe center at c. The prong on one side is adapted to pass into the prongon the other side. Topermit this one prong is made tubular, so as toallow the other prong to slide freely therein. The length of the prongsshould be made such that the length of the chord of the arc'P P shouldbe equal to the width of the back A, so that when the file is in itsopen position, as shown in Fig. 3, a space exists between the ends ofthe prongs sufficient to enable the papers or letters to be placedthereon.

When the parts of the covers inclosing the device 0 have been moved fromthe position shown in Fig. 3 through angle of ninety degrees to thatshown in Fig. 4, the plates E E and their prongs P P are moved throughan angle of about forty-five degrees. In order to allow of this movementbeing made smoothly and to prevent the abrasion of the covers B by theedges of the plates E, I arrange on each cover B a strip of metal F,which is attached thereto. This strip is so situated that the outer edgeof the plates rub against the said strip during the relative movement ofthe plate E with the cover B. I further arrange that this strip F shallcontrol the movement of the plate E, which I effeet by forming the stripF with a T-shaped end f, the projecting portions of which engage withthe opposite side of the plate E to that adjacent to the cover on whichthe strip is mounted, the strip F being passed through an aperture 6 inthe plate E. Then the covers 13 are opened out into their extendedposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the projecting portion of the strips Fpull back the plates E E and prongs P P into their open position, andwhen the covers are closed the plates E E are pushed up into theirclosed position by sliding up the strip F.

In Figs. 6 and 7 Ihave shown a modification of the filing device 0 inwhich the shape of ICO the plates E have been altered in order to allowof the letters and papers filed lying fiat upon one another in a plane,so that their marginal edges situated with the filing device are notbent and cramped into fan shape when the full complement of letters hasbeen placed upon the file. To effect this the ends of the plates E arebent for that portion which directly covers the margin of the papers, sothat when the filing device is in its closed position, as shown in Fig.7, the said bent portions of the plates are parallel to one another.

When the file has received its full complement of papers it may bedesirable to clamp those portions of the cover inclosing the filingdevice 0. This may be done in a variety of ways, some of which areillustrated in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. The two parts of the coversmay be held together by strings or tapes or a bolt or bolts 00 may bepassed through them from side to side, as shown in Fig. 12, or I mayarrange a spiral spring or springs 00 connecting the two coverstogether, as shown in Fig. 11, or a hinged catch X may be used, as shownin Fig. 10, or an embracingclamp 31 maybe utilized in either of theforms shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the former engaging outside the covers andthe latter y engaging behind suitable catches 1 arranged upon theinterior surfaces of the covers B B. The en gaging portions of theseclamps and their holders may be corrugated or indented so as to form areasonably secure attachment to the covers.

I may sometimes arrange upon one of the covers at some convenient part apunching device, which is adapted to punch each letter or paper withholes so as to enable the letter or paper to be readily threaded ontothe prongs. A convenient form for this punch is to combine it with theclasp, as shown in Figs. 13 and 14.

As will be seen the clasp Gr is fitted with a hinged or flexible flapl-I. Punches J are arranged on that part of it which is fixed to thecover B, and holes or dies K being formed in the hinged or flexible flapH so that if a letter or paper be inserted between the punches J anddies K and the fiap H be pressed against the clasp G holes will beformed in the letter or paper.

It is obvious that the holes or dies K and punches J may be arranged inthe converse manner.

The part G of the clasp I have shown for convenience in Fig. 14 as insection with a slot at G to receive the hooked end of the part H.

Having now particularly described my in vention, what I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination in a file, the covers each of which is divided intotwo sections hinged together, the stiff back hinged to said section, thefiling device comprising the two plates hinged centrally to the stiffback, the free edges of said hinged plates being engaged by the innersections of the cover to be raised thereby and the prongs carried by thehinged plates for engaging the papers to be filed, substantially asdescribed.

2. In combination, the two covers, the stiff back hinged thereto betweenthem, the two plates having the bent outer portions, said plates beinghinged to the back and the prongs connected with the bent portions ofthe plates, substantially as described.

3. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, each coverbeing divided into two parts, a hinge joining the divided parts of thecover in combination with a filing device mounted upon the center lineof the said stiff back, consisting of two sets of curved prongs adaptedto telescope one within the other, plates hinged at the point of supportof the filing device on the said back, and connectors attached at oneend to the parts of the covers adjacent to the back and adapted at theirother end to slidingly engage with the said hinged plates substantiallyas described.

4. In a letter file, the combination of the cover with a clasp adaptedto fasten the covers together, and having one member formed with twoparts movable relatively to one another, one part carrying a punch andthe other part being provided with a die to engage the punch,substantially as described.

5. In a letter file, a stiff back, two covers hinged thereto, incombination with a filing device, mounted upon the center line of thesaid stiff back, consisting of two sets of curved prongs adapted totelescope one within the other, plates hinged at the point of support ofthe filing device on the said back, and connectors attached at one endto the parts of the covers adjacent to the back and adapted at theirother end to slidingly engage with the said hinged plates, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL DE CASTRO. lVitnesses:

RICHARD A. HOFFMANN, CHARLES H. CARTER.

